Category: People

Speaking in front of a lot of people is already a nerve-racking task. Not everyone has the talent or the courage to go up a stage and speak in front of a lot of people, much less deliver a message with confidence and power. If you belong to the small percent of people who do have what it takes to become great in the field of public speaking, mastering your talent should be a priority.

One of the jobs that public speakers do is being a keynote speaker for events. Knowing that you already have the confidence and the charisma to charm people into believing whatever it is you say, there are still other advices you need to take in order to ensure your success.

Always assume that your audience is smart enough to understand what you are saying so as not to sound condescending, but do not assume that they know as much about the topic as you. If you are an expert on the subject you are going to discuss, it can be pretty easy to assume that everyone is an expert too, when they most probably aren’t.

Do not be too dramatic in your speech. Regardless of what you learned from your drama class, do not turn your presentation into a Shakespearean play, with all the emphasis on the enunciation and on the hand motions. Make yourself look natural. The job of a keynote speaker is not to impress, but to express.

Give something tangible for the audience that they can take back home. It might sound like a not so glamorous job to do, but as a keynote speaker, you should ensure that the impact of your speech goes beyond the walls of the venue by giving the audience something they can keep. You can do this by putting a little card containing the message you wish to express, or the key points of your speech, on every seat. You can ask for someone’s help if the venue is too large.

Never memorize your speech. Remember that understanding is much more valuable than memorizing. Ingrain the outline of your speech in your head, but never memorize every single line in your speech, as this only makes your speech sound rehearsed. Not only will your presentation look and sound much more authentic, but you will also eliminate the fear of forgetting your lines.

Never speak for free. Professional speakers never speak for free. What happens to a keynote speaker who speaks for free is that he is rewarded with only more opportunities to speak for free, without getting any chance of actually being hired to speak for a fee. This is called “death from exposure”, and this can easily happen to you if you find it okay not to accept payment.

Look at it this way: event organizers are willing to spend on the small serving of food in the hallway outside the event venue, but they find it hard to pay for the main event itself, which is you. Event organizers should give you a fare fee for your speech, and in return, you should give them the best value for the money they paid by inspiring and informing their audience.

Take your career as a keynote speaker in different places, maybe even abroad. The world is huge, there are a lot of wonderful people in different parts of the world, and they will most likely benefit from what you have to share. If you get the chance to speak in some place exotic or new, such as in another country, you can also bring your family along. Visit www.motivational-speaker-success.com to know the more secrets about professional keynote speakers.